Overcoming barriers, finding solutions, creating incentives and rewards.

Dave Matty

It’s all about perspective

...and motivation…and resources/rewards

Some similarities

Likely to be interested or engaged.

Likely to not care or change w/time/PP.

Probably worth ignoring unless...

A Quick Question

• How many of you learned at least one new thing about improving student learning yesterday?

Resource intensive• Raise awareness….. Attend Workshops, short courses, meetings, etc

o Rendezvous, POGIL, MathArt, AAC&U, others Participate in webinars or online short courses

• Invite experts or consultants Saundra McGuire, Jo Boaler

• Implementation? (Pay for play) Supplemental pay (NO!) Reassigned time Professional development funds

• "most improved" or "most innovative” awards• Program Review

Program Review 2013• Questions for reviewers:

o Curriculum – Appropriate? Flexible? Agile?o Pedagogies – appropriate for today’s learners?o Student focus and engagement?o Strong assessment plan?o Faculty:

appropriate breadth and depth?Engaged fully in teaching, scholarship, service?Appropriate workload?

o Facilities/resources: If anything, what is needed to improve…

Recruiting, improving student learning, engaging students in research, enhancing faculty research, attracting new faculty?

Resource “Light”

Publications

Webinars

Videos

MOOCs

Resource “Light”• Take advantage of low(er)-cost opportunities

• NAGT, SERC, MOOCs, free webinars, etc.• Adopt effective teaching as a hiring criterion.• Mentor and support new faculty colleagues.• Elevate and celebrate your in-house change

agents.

Resource “Light”

• Take advantage of in-house opportunities Teaching and Learning Orgs on campus. Learn from (more) successful departments. If possible, change reward structures to

recognize student learning innovations based on DBER.oP&T bylaws; merit pay

Resource “Light” Lead by example - Explore

various pedagogical approaches / Secure and explore new technologies

Things to think about• How to improve student learning while decreasing

faculty workload. SHORT TERM EFFORTS FOR LONGER-TERM GAINS

• Hold people accountable when you invest in them.• Embrace failure because it WILL happen. Learn from

it. Have the back of colleagues who do try but fail. It’s a formative process.

• HAVE THE PASSION - MAKE IT A PRIORITY

Baby Steps!

Don’t forget!

• NAGT Traveling Workshops Program Building Stronger Departments and Programs Building Stronger Courses

• http://nagt.org/nagt/profdev/twp/index.html

Good luck!

Things people say…• "It's taken me 20-30 years to figure out how to teach my students well

and now you're asking me to change!?!”

• "I am judged by my ability to attract external support and produce publications, not by my teaching!"

• "I'm already teaching my normal load and two overload classes!”

• "I'm just not paid enough for this to be worth my while!”

• "I've always done it this way. There’s no other way I can do it! <sob!>”

• "I'm already teaching over 200 students a semester spread out over 15-18 contact hours a week and I don't have any help!"